Ashton Kutcher ad called racist, yanked offline

Posted May 02, 2012 11:00 pm

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES - An online ad featuring Ashton Kutcher as an Indian man has been pulled offline after viewers called it racist.

The images and video for Popchips feature the 34-year-old "Two and a Half Men" star in brown makeup portraying a Bollywood producer named Raj who is "looking for love." They were removed from YouTube and Facebook after being criticized online.

Other videos featuring Kutcher as a stoner, tattooed Southerner and pasty fashionista remain online.

A spokeswoman for Popchips says the dating parody featuring the four characters was "created to provoke a few laughs and was never intended to stereotype or offend anyone." She added that the company hopes "people can enjoy this in the spirit it was intended."

A spokeswoman for Kutcher hasn't return messages seeking comment.

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